Binocular rib sight for guns



April 10, 1962 G. c. LUEBKEMAN BINOCULAR RIB SIGHT FOR GUNS Filed May 11, 1959 14 i L/ y);

a 1' FW INVENTOR g c Luelermzrz United States Patent Ofifice 3,028,674 Patented Apr. 10, 1962 3,028,674 BINOCULAR RIB SIGHT FOR GUNS George C. Luebkeman, 214 Cherokee Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio Filed May 11, 1959, Ser. No. 812,152 15 Claims. (Cl. 33-47) This invention relates to a rib sight for shotguns that is to be used by hunters, trap shooters, and the like, desirous of employing binocular vision for Wing shooting at moving targets.

Heretofore ribs were mounted upon the barrels of shotguns, and the like, for the purpose of assisting a shooter in aligning the gun with a target and the usual bead or beads were positioned above the upper surface of these conventional ribs. In my co-pending application for Binocular Sight for Firearms filed May 27, 1957, and given Serial Number 661,970 in the United States Patent Office, now Patent No. 2,927,375, there is disclosed a rib with a longitudinal groove formed centrally in its upper surface, an existing front bead sight being spaced forwardly of and separate from the rib whereby the rib functions as a gun accessory. It is, therefore, the main object of this invention to provide a rib sight that is economically and readily fitted to a particular gun and thereafter becomes an integral part of the gun to insure straight and effective shooting for years of dependable service.

It is another object of the invention to provide a rib sight for shotguns that will present to the aiming eye only of a shooter, employing binocular vision, an eye catching and attractive forward sight element whilst means is provided for effectively concealing said forward sight element from the non-aiming eye of the shooter.

A further object of the invention is to provide a binocular sight having the foregoing characteristics which is compact and free of objectionable dirt catching crevices, or the like, so that the sight may be kept clean and bright and effective as a means of accurately aiming a shotgun at a moving target.

In its more specific aspects the invention consists of a rib sight that has a longitudinal slot formed in its upper face that may have a tapering depth and be of V, U, square, or a specially shaped cross sectional contour. The forward end of the slot has mounted therein a solid sight element which is formed and positioned within the slot in such manner as to receive a maximum of the available circumambient light so that it will have an eye attracting quality which will be immediately apparent to a shooter as his aiming eye is trained along the slot in the rib in the act of aiming the gun for binocular wing shooting. The rib sight structure will also effectively conceal said sight element from the non-aiming eye of the shooter thereby assuring that the non-aiming eye will not influence the binocular aiming act of the shooter.

Further objects and features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmental, side elevational view of a barrel for a single barrel shotgun with my improved rib sight mounted thereon.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the gun sight shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views like FIG. 3 showing modified forms of front sight mounts of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a section taken on line 66 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a fragmental, side elevational view of the muzzle end portion of a gun barrel showing a modified form of my gun sight mount.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the gun sight mount shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a gun barrel showing a further modification of my gun sight.

FIG. 10 is a fragmental, top plan view like FIG. 2 showing another modified form of my gun sight.

FIG. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

Referring now to the drawing, I have illustrated my invention in connection with a conventional single barrel shotgun but it will be understood that the invention would apply to double barrel shotgus and to guns of all gauges and types that are utilized by hunters, trap shooters, or the like, desirous of using binocular vision for wing shooting at moving targets.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 6 the numeral 14 indicates the barrel of a single barrel shotgun provided with a threaded end 15 for connecting it to a conventional frame (not shown) that in turn is mounted on the usual gun stock (not shown). This barrel has an elongated rib sight 16 mounted upon and extending the length of the barrel 14 and preferably secured thereto by soldering or brazing the bottom face of the rib to the external surface of the barrel. The rib sight is substantially square in lateral contour and extends from the muzzle end 17 of the gun barrel rearwardly to the rear or breach end edge 18 thereof. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 the rib is located upon the barrel in a position such that the vertical plane that contains the center axis of the barrel longitudinally bisects the rib body, the rib having a flat, upper surface 19 disposed in a plane normal to said vertical plane of the center axis of the barrel. According to this form of my invention a U-shaped slot 20 is formed centrally in the upper surface 19 of the rib and has its forward portion extending into the muzzle edge of the rib whilst the rear part of said slot extends into the rear end edge of the rib. With reference to FIG. 9 it will be seen that my modified slot 200 which corresponds to the U-shaped slot 20 extends from the muzzle end 17 of the gun barrel 14 to a point in the rib between 16 to 18 inches from said muzzle end, said slot tapering rearwardly from the muzzle of the rib to its terminating point on the rib. As illustrated in FIG. 2 the slots 20 and 200 divide the upper surface 19 of the rib into two laterally spaced, longitudinally extending narrow areas 21 and 22 that are located equal distances from and on each side of the vertical plane containing the axis of the barrel.

A lateral V-shaped notch 23 is formed in and across the forward part of the rib near, but spaced rearwardly from, the muzzle end 17 of the barrel, said notch having a forward face 24 inclined upwardly and forwardly in the rib at approximately 30 with respect to the axis of the gun barrel and having the same depth dimension as the slot 20 in the rib. With reference to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the forward end of the slot 20 between the muzzle end and the forward face 24 of notch 23 has the same configuration in lateral section as the rest of the slot and a solid front sight element 25 preferably made of translucent plastic material is preferably positioned within and extends across said portion of the slot. A suitable adhesive secures the said element in the slot por-\ tion.

Another means of mounting the solid sight 25 on the forward end of the slot 20 between the muzzle 17 and the forward face 24 of the notch 23 is illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein it will be noted that said slot portion is milled to a square internal configuration and a pair of longitudinally extending grooves 2626 are formed in opposite sides of the squared slot portion near the bottom thereof to receive corresponding shoulders 27-27 projecting from the base portion of the sight element 25. With reference to FIG. 5 there is shown a modified form of mounting means for the sight element 25 which consists in providing inwardly directed flanges 28-28 on the upper ends of the rib which overhang the square slot portion. When the flanges are forced down upon the solid sight element 25 they secure the latter in operative position within the slot. It will be noted with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 that the upper face of the sight element 25 is flat and is located below the plane of the upper surface 19 of the rib but, as clearly indicated at 129 in FIG. 3, the upper face of the element may be made convex, or the like, and also made to lie beneath the plane of the upper surface 19 of the rib 16. It will, therefore, be understood that the rear face of the sight element lies in the plane of the forward face 24 of the notch 23 but it is contemplated that the sight element body may extend slightly rearwardly of said face 24 whereby the rear face of the sight element will be located within the notch to catch light rays, for ease of cleaning and to prevent the edges of the notch from casting shadows on said face of the element.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7 and 8 wherein there is shown a modified mounting for the front sight element 25 that in this instance is made of a translucent material and is mounted in the rib to insure the highest degree of surface exposure of the element to the circumambient light in order that the inclined rear face of the translucent sight element will have a maximum of illumination and be more readily apparent and attractive to the aiming eye of the shooter. In this modification the rib 16 is formed with laterally opposed cut-out portions 2929 formed therein midway between the muzzle end edge of the rib and the notch 23 to form in the rib four corner tines 30 each of which has a inturned finger 31 on its upper end for engaging the upper face of the sight element 25 to secure the element in the rib.

It is contemplated that a second sight be provided for the gun Sights illustrated in the drawing for those hunters or trap shooters that would desire, or have become accustomed to, using a second sight that is referred to the front sight to thereby control more accurately the elevation of the gun. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6 a second sight element 32 made of a solid plastic material may be located within to extend laterally across an intermediate part of the slot 20 in the rib 16, i.e. about 16 to 18 inches behind the muzzle. The second sight is triangular in longitudinal section and substantially square in lateral contour and has a laterally extending apex portion 33 located within the upper surface 19 of the rib. This sight is preferably mounted in the slot 20 by milling a recess 34 in the bottom of the slot and securing the base of the sight body in the recess by a suitable adhesive. A modification of the second sight is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein the slot 200 in the rib terminates at an intermediate part of the rib, the terminal end of the slot as it merges with the top surface 19 of the rib forming an apparent lateral area that may be referred to the front sight by a shooter in the act of aiming the gun. To improve the visibility of and emphasize this apparent lateral area a second rearwardly tapering slot 330 is formed in the rib beginning just behind the rear terminal end of slot 200 and terminating itself at the rear end edge 18 of the barrel.

Referring to FIGS. l0 and 11 of the drawing the shotgun barrel 14 is provided with a rib 160 which has a longitudinal slot 201 formed centrally in its upper surface, the forward end of said rib having the lateral notch 23 milled thereacross and the solid sight element 25 mounted in the front slot portion between the muzzle and the notch 23. As best shown in FIG. 11 the slot 201 differs from the slot 20 in that the sides thereof are inclined upwardly and outwardly with respect to the vertical plane containing the axis of the barrel and that the bottom of the slot 201 is rounded but is laterally restricted as compared to the bottom of said slot 20. It is further contemplated that the bottom and sides of the slot 201 be made non-reflective by giving them a roughened or matted surface 202 whilst the longitudinal side areas 21 and 22 on opposite sides of the slot 201 may have mirror-like polished surfaces. Thus the slot face will appear to be relatively dark while the areas 21 and 22 will reflect the general light of the locality whereby the rib may be more readily aligned with the front sight when the gun is aimed. The surface treatment of the slot 201 and the areas 21 and 22 just described may be reversed with good results whereby the area 21 and 22 may be made non-reflective by matting or roughening them while the slot faces may have mirror-like polished surfaces.

It is contemplated that the surface of the slot 20 and the surfaces of the rib 16 may be provided with a surface coating that is light absorbent and the narrow face portions 21 and 22 on the upper surface of the rib have bright, polished mirror-like reflective properties whereby said face portions will be non-attractive and contrasted to the slot surfaces to make the slot apparent to the aiming eye of the shooter and aid him in lining the gun barrel with a target. It is also thought that both the front sight 25 and second sight 32 could have colored translucent bodies and that the colors could be contrasted, i.e. the front sight could have a red color while the second sight could be of a white or grayish color, whereby the second sight could more readily be referred to the front sight by the shooter in the act of aiming the gun at a moving target.

What is claimed is:

1. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the rear end to the muzzle end of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally of the upper surface of the rib, said slot extending into the muzzle end edge of said rib, an eyecatching element mounted wholly within the muzzle portion of the slot, and said element completely filling the muzzle portion of the slot in the lateral direction and having its upper surface substantially flush with the upper surface of the rib.

2. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and. extending from the rear portion of the rib into the muzzle end thereof, a lateral V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the slot and located near the muzzle end of the rib, said notch having a depth corresponding to the depth of the slot, a solid sight element positioned within and filling that portion of the slot situated between the muzzle end of the rib and the forward face of the notch, and means for mounting the element in the slot.

3. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the means for mounting the element in the slot comprises a groove formed in laterally opposed portions of the slot, and outwardly extending shoulders on the element slidably receivable in the grooves.

4. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the means for mounting the element in the slot comprises laterally opposed cut-out portions formed in the rib midway between the muzzle and edge and the notch to provide corner tines on the rib, said tines having inturned fingers at their upper ends for engaging the upper face of the sight element.

5. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 2, characterized by the fact that the sight element is made of translucent material and of a contrasting color to the color of the rib.

6. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains a longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending from the rear portion of the rib into the muzzle end edge of the rib, said slot dividing the upper surface of the rib into a pair of narrow face portions located one on each side of said vertical plane and equally spaced therefrom, a lateral V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the groove and located near the muzzle end of the rib, said notch having a depth corresponding to the depth of the groove, and a solid sight element mounted within and filling that portion of the slot situated between the muzzle and edge of the rib and the forward face of the notch.

7. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 6, characterized by the fact that the rib and the slot face are of a light absorbent color whilst the narrow face portions of the rib have bright, polished mirror reflective properties.

8. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending from the rear end of the rib into the muzzle end edge of the rib, a lateral V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the slot and located near the muzzle end edge of the rib, said notch having a depth corresponding to the depth of the slot, a solid front sight element mounted within and filling that portion of the slot situated between the muzzle end edge of the rib and the forward face of the notch, a solid second sight mounted within an intermediate portion of the slot and having a triangular shape in longitudinal section with the apex extending across the slot in the rib, and means for mounting the second sight element in the slot.

9. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 8, characterized by the fact that the front sight element and the second sight element are made of translucent material and of contrasting colors.

10. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending from an intermediate portion of the rib into the muzzle end edge of said rib, said slot having a forward portion of uniform depth and becoming progressively shallower as it recedes from said forward portion, a V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the forward portion of the slot and located near the muzzle end edge of the rib, said notch having a depth corresponding to the depth of the forward portion of the slot, and a solid front sight element mounted within and filling that portion of the slot situated between the muzzle end edge of the rib and the forward face of the notch.

11. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a U-shaped, longitudinally extending slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending from the rear portion of the rib into the muzzle end edge of said rib, a V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the forward part of the slot and located near and spaced rearwardly from the muzzle end edge of the rib and dividing the slot into a short forward portion and a long rear portion, and a solid front sight element mounted within and filling the forward portion of the slot.

12. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 11 characterized by the fact that the rear portion of the slot has upwardly and outwardly divergent side walls and a rounded bottom wall.

13. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms as set forth in claim 12 further characterized by the fact that the slot surfaces and the fiat upper surface of the rib have different light reflective qualities.

14. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending through the muzzle end edge of the rib and extending rearwardly to at least the mid portion of the rib, said slot tapering rearwardly from the muzzle end to its rear portion, a lateral V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the forward portion of the slot and located near the muzzle end of the rib, and a solid front sight element mounted within and filling that portion of the slot situated between the muzzle end edge of the rib and the forward face of the notch.

15. A binocular sight for the barrels of firearms comprising an elongated rib mounted upon the barrel and extending from the muzzle to the rear end portion of the barrel, said rib being bisected longitudinally by the vertical plane that contains the longitudinal center axis of the barrel and having a flat upper surface lying in a plane normal to said vertical plane, a longitudinal slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending through the muzzle end edge of the rib and extending rearwardly to at least the mid portion of the rib, said slot tapering rearwardly from the muzzle end to its rear portion, a second rearwardly tapering slot formed centrally in the upper surface of the rib and extending from a point just rearwardly of the first mentioned slot to the rear end portion of the rib, a lateral V-shaped notch formed in the upper surface of the rib across the forward portion of the first mentioned slot and located near the muzzle end of the rib, and a solid front sight element mounted within and filling that portion of the first mentioned slot situated between the muzzle end edge of the rib and the forward face of the notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 985,181 Korrodi Feb. 28, 1911 1,223,476 Coller Apr. 24, 1917 1,718,458 Hager et al. June 25, 1929 2,295,791 Hornback Sept. 15, 1942 2,706,335 Munsey Apr. 19, 1955 2,855,680 Christensen Oct. 14, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 82,100 Austria Dec. 27, 1920 437,725 Germany Nov. 26, 1926 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,,028 674 April 10, 1962 George C. Luebkeman It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 5 line 20 for "and" read end Signed and sealed this 24th day of July 1962.

(SEAL) Atteat:

ERNEST w. SWIDER VI LADD Atteating Officer Commissioner of Patents 

